Chances are you currently ride one of three types of bike: mountain, road or hybrid. Fat-tyred fiends like the Boardman Mountain Bike Comp are tough, often come with suspension and usually offer low gearing to take on steep climbs. At the opposite end of the weight spectrum are swift, slender road bikes like the Boardman Road Pro Carbon SLR. With narrow, high-pressure tyres and lightweight frames – in this case only 6.9kg – they accelerate well and demand minimal effort to maintain speed. In between are the do-it-all hybrids, like Boardman’s Hybrid Bike Pro. Combining some of the sturdiness of an MTB with the friskiness of a road bike, the hybrid’s riding position is more upright than a road bike and you can usually add mudguards and pannier racks, making them a favourite with commuters.
Switching to a different type of riding means learning a whole new range of techniques – which is why swapping between them is so great for developing your cycling skillset, working different muscle groups and adding a little spice to your saddle time.
Posture
Performance road riding involves maintaining an aerodynamic profile. Most of the time you’re sat in the saddle, head down, torso angled low. The emphasis is on steady power through the pedals, conserving energy for sudden attacks. Mountain biking, meanwhile, is all about flexibility and being able to move around on the bike. You’re more upright, arms wide on the bars. You’ll be out of the saddle much of the time, using your legs to balance and act as shock absorbers. Your power output will be appropriately up and down – intense effort on sharp ascents, pure freewheel on downhill sections.
Switching between the two styles brings benefits to both. Mountain biking’s agile manoeuvring builds core and upper body strength, which delivers gains on the road, as a strong core helps stabilise your upper body and give your legs a solid foundation to push against. Road biking’s mile-munching stamina and pedalling efficiency make for gains on the trails. And both disciplines can improve performance on your commute, where efficiency, core strength and stamina all have a part to play.
Handling
On-road and off-road bike handling are different beasts. Road – racing in particular – often involves negotiating tightly packed groups and drafting the rider in front, so you’ll need to master riding a wheel-length behind your fellow riders at speed, being aware of what’s happening all around you and keeping one eye on the road ahead for changes in pace and gradient. Stay calm and avoid sudden changes in speed or direction.
Mountain biking, on the other hand, tends to allow more personal space – not least because it involves rapid changes in speed and direction, as well as hazardous obstacles like boulders, roots and sudden drops. Unpredictable terrain means you’ll need fast reactions to choose the optimal riding line. It will all come in useful when you’re back to the daily commute – reading the road ahead, thinking fast and staying calm in the maelstrom of morning rush-hour.
Confidence
Switching between on- and off-road cycling builds confidence in both. Road riding calls for nerves of steel in jam-packed pelotons and high-speed descents. Mountain biking’s bumps and drops require similar mettle – but this is a confidence best earned through practise.
Everyone starts with a few lessons before they ski down a mountain. But MTB newbies often just hop on a bike and hit the trail – which is when bravado’s bad habits can set in. A few sessions with an off-road training school like Bristol’s Pedal Progression will help you get off on the right track. For those moving from mud to tarmac, joining a local cycling club’s a good way to finesse road-riding techniques. Again, your commute will be enhanced either way.
Flow
The concept of “flow”, so beloved by MTB riders – keeping your sightline ahead, anticipating changes in gradient and terrain and using your whole body to steer the bike – is a useful mindset to adopt when road cycling, and even when commuting. Aaron Gwin offered a textbook example of flow on his winning ride at the 2015 Downhill Mountain Bike World cup, when his chain broke at the start of the course and he completed his run without pedalling.
Essential kit
- Changing disciplines is a great excuse to get another bike (or two), but make sure you get the right one for the job. Be clear about your goals. Pop into any Halfords store to get measured for a perfect fit.
- As every serious cyclist knows, padded undershorts make every kind of riding more comfortable. Get the best pair you can afford. You won’t regret it.
- If you’re switching from road to MTB, wear tough off-roading shorts over your precious lycra before you mix it with bushes and brambles.
- If you’re switching from MTB to road, learn to ride with clip pedals – doing so will significantly increase your power and speed as your pedal strokes become more efficient, meaning less fatigue and muscle exhaustion after a long turn in the saddle.
